luly 9. 2008
PageA9
H ealth matters
Injury Death Rate Declines
OSHU Looks at Regenerating Cartilage
According to a new report is­
sued by M ultnomah County Health
Department, African American and
Hispanic unintentional injury death
rates declined significantly over the
past decade.
The African Am erican rate d e­
clined from 49 per I (X).(XM) to 34 per
1 (X),(XX) and the Hispanic rate de­
clined from 42 per 1 (X),(XX) to 25 per
100,000.
Rates o f motor vehicle-related
deaths have declined by 19 percent
in M ultnomah County for all racial
and ethnic groups.
Unintentional injury is the lead-
Research
reveals
important clues
ing cause o f death am ong adoles­
cents, the second leading cause
o f death am ong children and is
one o f the top five leading causes
o f d e a th am o n g a d u lts in
M ultnomah County. The most fre­
quent causes are motor-vehicle
accidents, poisoning, fires, drown­
ing and falls.
In M ultnom ah County hom i­
cide rates have been consistently
higher am ong African A m ericans
than am ong other race/ethnicities;
however, the rate am ong African
Americans has declined more than
50 percent since the early 1990s.
H ealth W atch
M anaging C hronic H epatitis C - Third W ednesday o f each month
at 5 p.m „ the inform ative session led by a registered nurse to help
m anage side effects o f m edications and dosage preparations and
adm inistration; doctors referral required. T o register, call 503-251 -
6313.
C ardiac-R ehab Exercise C lasses - A medically supervised exer­
cise program for people dealing with heart conditions. For more
information, call 503-251 -6260.
O steoporosis Screening - An ultrasound bone density screening
with personalized education; fee $30. T o schedule an appointm ent,
call 503-261-6611.
Stroke Alert Screening — Check your carotid arteries with a
painless ultrasound to assess your risk. Fee $40. T o schedule a
screening, call 503-251 -6137.
Newborn C are-S atu rd ay , July 12from 1:30p.m. to6p.m .,expectant
parents get a com plete look at preparing for the new arrival, topics
include bathing, diapering, safety and answ ers to com m on ques­
tions; $45 fee per couple. T o register, call 503-574-6595.
I^eg Alert Screening - Check for peripheral arterial disease with this
safe, sim ple screening using ankle and arm blood pressure. The fee
is $40. To schedule an appointm ent, call 503-251 -6137.
Infant C PR - M onday, July 14, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., this class will
teach fam ilies how to perform rescue breathing, CPR and choking
m aneuvers for infants 1 to 12 m onths old; $34 fee. For more
inform ation and to register, call 503-574-6595.
Childbirth Preparation - Tuesdays, beginning July 15, and Thurs­
days, starting July 31, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m ., are the launch dates for
a four-w eek series to help first-tim e parents prepare for a more
com fortable labor and delivery with lectures, practice and discus­
sions; $85 per couple. T o register, call 503-574-6595.
“Vegetarian Soups and Salads" - Thursday, July 17 from 6 p.m, to
8:30 p.m., Mt. Hood C om m unity College w illofferacour.se teaching
the art o f cooking low-fat, cholesterol-free nutritious pure vegetar­
ian soups and salads for any season; $34 fee. T o register, call 503-
491-7572.
Big Brother & Big Sisters - Saturday, July 19 from 10 a m. to 11
a.m., this special sibling class is for ages 3-6, helps siblings prepare
for their new role as a big brother or sister. Parents m ust be present;
fee $20. To register, call 503-574-6595.
Bringing Baby Hom e - S aturday’s, July 19 and July 26, parents-to-
be can learn how to be the best parenting-team possible in a relaxed
and supportive environm ent with a trained facilitator in these two
six-hour sessions; $40 fee per couple. For registration and inform a­
tion, call 503-215-6377.
A strain of mice with the natural
ability to repair damaged cartilage
may one day lead to significant im­
provements in treatment o f human
knee, shoulder and hip injuries, ac­
cording to researchers at Oregon
Health & Science University.
"W e think there is som ething
special about these m ice," said
Jam ie Fitzgerald, Ph.D., O H SU as­
sistant professor o f orthopedics
and rehabilitation. "They have the
ability to regenerate cartilage."
"Knee pain is one o f the m ost
com m on m usculoskeletal c o m ­
plaints that bring people to their
doctor," Fitzgerald said. Cartilage
is a key culprit. "Human cartilage
injuries heal poorly and can lead to
cart i lage degeneration and osteoar­
thritis. This is an enorm ous clinical
problem. It is estim ated that one Tiger Woods grimaces as he touches his knee during the U.S.
quarter o f the adult population will Open last month in San Diego. OHSU research reveals important
have some kind of arthritis by 2020. " clues to significantly improve treatment of human injuries - such
Knee injuries are a significant as Tiger Woods' damaged knee cartilage.
issue for professional athletes. The
National Football League Charities
provided the initial grant to launch
the study. "Cartilage injuries can
be career-ending for football play­
ers," Fitzgerald said.
Greg Oden missed his rookie sea­
son with the Blazers because o f a
cartilage injury. Although it's not his
primary injury, champion golfer Ti­
ger W oods was sidelined for two
months this spring after surgery to
deal with damaged cartilage in his
left knee.
Fitzgerald and his fellow OHSU
studied knee injuries in 150 mice.
Three m onths after the cartilage in
theirknees was damaged, male MRL
mice had replaced a significant
am ount o f the injured tissue with
healthy cartilage.
The next step is understanding
why these mice are able to restore
the cartilage in their knees.
"If we can identify what genes or
proteins are necessary for cartilage
to heal, we can work toward finding
similar genes and proteins in hu­
mans," Herzka says. An actual treat­
ment, how ever, "is many years
away."
Neglected Woman Dies on Hospital Floor
Video shows no one
coming to help her
(AP) - A New York City hospital has
ageed to implement reforms at a psychiatric
ward where surveillance footage showed
an African-A m erican woman falling from
her chair, writhering on the floor and dying
as w orkers failed to help for more than an
hour.
E sm inG reen,49, had been waiting in the
em ergency room for nearly 24 hours when
she toppled from her seat at 5:32 a.m. on
June 19, falling face down on the floor.
She was dead by 6:35 a.m., w hen som e­
one on the m edical staff, flag g ed dow n
by a person in the w aitin g room , finally Esmin Green (top right) is shown waiting for care in
approached, nudged G reen w ith her foot, the psychiatric ward of the Kings County Hospital in
and gently p ro d d ed h er sh o u ld er, as if to Brooklyn, N. Y. before she toppled from the chair
w ake her. T h e staffer then left and re ­ and died after waiting 24 hours for in the emer­
turned w ith som eone w earing a w hite lab gency room.
co at who ex am in ed her and sum m oned
help.
Until the staffer’s appearance. G reen's
collapse barely caused a ripple. O ther pa­
tients waiting a few feet away didn't react.
Security guards and a m em ber o f the
hospital's staff appeared to notice her
prone body at least three times, but made
no visible attem pt to see if she needed
help.
One guard didn't even leave his chair,
rolling it around a corner to stare at the
body, then rolling away a few moments
later.
The New York City Health and Hospi­
tals Corporation, which runs the hospital,
said six people have been fired as a result,
including security personnel and m em ­
bers of the medical staff.
"We are all shocked and distressed by
this situation," HHC's president, Alan
Aviles, said in a statement.
Skilled Nurses Honored
The intensive care unit at Provi­
dence St. Vincent Medical Center is
filled with the latest technology to
help critically ill patients fight for
survival. But the u n it's greatest
asset is the registered nurses who
are skilled at detecting and m anag­
ing any potential problem that might
W elcom e to M edicare - Thursday, Aug. 14 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and
Saturday, A ugust 16 from 10 a.m. to noon, Mt. Hood Com m unity
College will provide a free tw o-hour class to help participants
understand the fundam entals regarding various benefit options. To
register, call 503-491 -7572.
ham per a p atient's successful re­
covery.
The American Association o f
Critical-Care Nurses has recognized
that and selected the Providence St.
Vincent intensive care unit as one of
19 in the nation to receive the Beacon
Aw ardforCriticalCare Excellence.
First Step Academy
Bereavem ent Support G rôups - Free, safe confidential group
m eetings for those who have experienced the death o f a loved one
offered on various nights and locations. For inform ation and regis­
tration, call 503-215-4622.
• Professional Services • Affordable Prices
• Payment Plans: OAC
• Over 20 years experience
• Full & Partial Dentures • Natural Appearance
• Full Service Lab • Accepting Oregon Health Plan
State Registered Day Care Home
Melanie Block, L.D. D enturist
503-230-0207
*Infant to School Age
We 've Moved!
Vernon Neighborhood Location
200 N.E. 20"’ Ave., Ste 100
Portland, OR 97232
Free parking
Childcare & Education
Chronic Pain Support G roup - meets the first W ednesday at 4 p.m.
to 5:30 p.m. and the third W ednesday o f each month, from 7 p.m. to
8:30p.m. Form ore information, call 503-256-4000.
Dentures Worth
Smiling About!
*Openings Available*
(503) 288-8367
____________ THE____________
Chiropractic Auto Injury Clinic, PC
SPINACOLUMN
Zchon R. Jones, DC
333 NE Russell St., #200, Portland, OR. 97212
(503) 284-7838
An ongoing senes of questions and answers about Americas natural healing profession
Truly making a difference in the lives of
Auto Accident victims and Injured Workers for 16 years.
If you or someone you know has been in an accident,
call us so we can help you with your needs. (503) 284-7838
Dr. Billy R. Flowers
Part 24. Osteoarthritis: you needn’t be
frightened about a frightening problem anymore
: 1 have been having a lot o f o f pain a person suffers. In fact it joint and bones are stresses. Our
pain in my neck. The doctor has been found that pain and osteo­ chief purpose then is to remove
hat it was osteoarthritis and arthritis are both caused by the the stress or irritation from the
that I would have learn to live with same problem . M echanical stress joint (and nerves) - not only to
it. W hat is your opinion?
on the bone and joints is the big­ reduce pain but to allow the bones
: As you might know, there is gest cause o f pain and also the to be as healthy as possible as
a trem endous am ount o f cause o f that deform ity o f the joint well. If you have joint pain, isn't
health research going on today
your doctor calls o steo arth ritis. In it tim e you stepped up to . effec­
Much relates to the spine and Chiropractic we evaluate where the tive C hiropractic?
nervous system. You might ask
your doctor if he has read the
latest study on osteoarthritis. The
2124 N.E. Hancock Street, Portland Oregon 97212
study showed that there was no
correlation between the am ount
o f osteo arthritis and the am ount
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